Hair washing machine

ABSTRACT

Automatic hair washing device comprising a helmet having a plurality of showers, an electric circuit for water heating with power dissipation depending on the water temperature, and an electric circuit for selectively supplying water only to some showers at a time and alternating pure water with water containing hair treatment solutions. Hair washing is carried out with said hair continuously moved by alternate water jets, so that the cleaning thereof is perfect.

United States Patent [191 Fava [ 51 May 15, 1973 [54] HAIR WASHING MACHINE [76] Inventor: Ernesto Fava, Via Arce 40, Salerno,

Italy [22] Filed: June 18, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 154,465

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data July 1, 1970 Italy ..26824 A/7O [52] US. Cl ..4/l59,' 128/65 [51] Int. Cl. ..A6lh 33/00 [58] Field of Search ..128/65; 4/159 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,343,530 9/1967 Solos et al. ..4/159 X 6/1971 Solyanka et a1. ..4/l59 X Primary Examiner-Kenneth W. Sprague Attorney- Richard P. Alberi 57 ii i insurer Automatic hair washing device comprising a helmet having a plurality of showers, an electric circuit for water heating with power dissipation depending on the water temperature, and an electric circuit for selectively supplying water only to some showers at a time and alternating pure water with water containing hair treatment solutions. Hair washing is carried out with said hair continuously moved by alternate water jets, so that the cleaning thereof is perfect.

7 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures Adams et al ..4/1 59 X PATEMEU mm sum 2 0F 3 a 5 r H ERNEST b I WA HAIR WASHING MACHINE This invention relates to a hair washing device.

Devices are known for hair washing which, however, have not been wide spread used because of exhibiting some disadvantages.

Some devices comprise a helmet accomodating showers, through which water jets are continuously uniformly delivered on hair of persons having the head thereof inserted in the helmet: the uniformity of the water jets causes the hair to adhere to the person's nape of the neck and inhibits a good washing of the hair and scalp surface.

A further disadvantage in such known devices is the impossibility of setting to a high degree of sensitivity and accuracy the temperature of the water being projected on the hair to be washed.

The primary object of the present invention is to provide a hair washing device comprising an electric circuit fitted with a resistance for heating the water intended to wash the hair, this electric circuit being adapted to supply a maximum power to the heating resistance at the beginning of the washing cycle when the water is cold and to minimize the power supplied to said resistance when the water temperature becomes slightly lower than the operating temperature.

Another object of the invention is to provide a hair washing device having a plurality of showers for delivering water jets on the hair, the device comprising means for selectively and alternately delivering water only to some of said showers at a time, so that the water jets will cause a continuous movement of the hair and a massage of the scalp.

The foregoing and other objects are attained by a de vice comprising a helmet provided with seals along its free edge and a plurality of showers arranged internally of said helmet, a water storage reservoir connected to a water supply by a conduit having an electrovalve inserted therein, having a drain pump and a delivery pump which is connected to saidshowers through a plurality of distinct tubings in which electrovalves are inserted, at least one container for a hair treatment liquid having a delivery pump which is connected by tubings to at least one of said showers, an electric circuit for selectively controlling said electrovalves through a variable timing device, a circuit for heating and controlling the temperature of the water in the reservoir supplying electric power to an electric resistance in the reservoir in varying amount as the water temperature varies, this temperature controlling and heating circuit comprising a water-immersed heat responsive element, a manually adjustable potentiometer and a bidirectional semiconductor, the latter beingconnected to a current amplifier wherein the amplification is varied by the heat responsive element and potentiometer, the device also comprising a current rectifier supplying said amplifier, a timer gating said pumps, an electric circuit for controlling the electrovalves and a circuit for heating and controlling the water temperature, and comprising a level indicator for the water in the reservoir, which level indicator is electrically connected to said timer acting thereon and causing it to advance by a step and is connected to said heating circuit which is selectively switched on and switched off by said indicator.

In order that the device structure and features be more clearly understood, an embodiment thereof will now be described, by mere way of not limiting example,

reference being had to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-section showing a helmet provided with showers and forming a part of the present device;

FIG. 2 is a front view showing the set of showers mounted in the helmet of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a block diagram for the present device;

FIG. 4 is a block diagram for the electric circuit of the device;

FIG. 5 schematically shows an embodiment of the electronic controlling circuit for the electrovalves forming a part of the present device; and

FIG. 6 schematically shows the electronic circuit for for heating and controlling the temperature of the water intended to be delivered to the showers in the device helmet.

The device comprises a helmet 1 having an opening inwhich the nape of the neck for a persons head can be inserted (FIG. 1), at which opening a seal 2 is positioned and prevents the water being injected into the helmet from exiting therefrom and wetting the face of a person washing his or her hair. At the bottom of the helmet a trough 3 is provided, in which the water is collected and from which it is delivered through a conduit 4 to a filter and then to a storage reservoir to be described hereinafter.

A plurality of showers 5 are arranged in said helmet 1 and located laterally, at the top and at the bottom of the helmet: these showers are connected to distinct tubings 6, 7 and 8, through which water can be delivered at a slight pressure or at different pressures to said showers independently of one another.

In the tubings, which are connected to the showers carried in the helmet, electrovalves are provided which, in the embodiment herein described, are assumed to be in a number of three and have been designated on the drawing at El, E2 and E3. Said electrovalves are connected through a delivery pump P1 to a reservoir 9 (FIG. 3) which in turn is connected to a water supply by a conduit 10 wherein an electrovalve E4 is provided.

As above stated, the helmet 1 is connected through tubing 4 and filter 11 to the reservoir 9. This reservoir is also connected with distinct containers, two distinct containers in the embodiment shown, designated by reference numerals l2 and 13, respectively, (FIG. 3), for containing two separate solutions for hair washing, such as two separate types of soapy or cleansing or restoring or coloring solutions. The containers 12 and 13 are connected to the reservoir 9 by two distinct pumps P3 and P4, as shown in FIG. 4. A level indicator l4 and a drain pump P2 are also connected to the reservoir.

The electric circuit for the hair washing device is shown as a whole and schematically in FIG. 4, and comprises, in addition to the above mentioned electrovalves and pumps, a timer 15, an electronic oscillator circuit 16, an electronic 17 for heating and temperature controlling of the water to be supplied to the helmet, a resistor R6 supplied by the circuit 17 and enclosed within the reservoir 9, a thermistor R3 also enclosed within the reservoir 9, and a console 18 carrying the knob for a potentiometer, by which the temperature can be adjusted for the water in the reservoirs as described hereinafter; a starting key 19 is also provided, by which electric current can be supplied to the timer l5.

The electronic oscillator circuit 16 for controlling, i.e., selectively opening and closing respectively the electrovalves El, E2 and E3, can be provided in'many ways different from one another. An embodiment for said circuit is shown in FIG. 5, wherein in a rectangle defined by broken lines and designated by reference numeral 20, a circuit has been shown for a bistable multivibrator of a per se well known design, and in a broken line rectangle 21 the circuit is shown for a variable period oscillator also of a per se well known design. In this electronic oscillator circuit reference characters C are capacitors, R are resistors, D are diodes and Q are transistors. Still in the circuit of FIG. 5, the coil 22 of a multiple changeover contact relay operates on the movable contacts of said relay supplying or cutting off current to the electrical portion of the electrovalves E1, E2 and E3, respectively.

The electronic circuit 17 for heating and controlling the temperature of the water in the reservoir can also be provided in several ways and an embodiment is shown in FIG. 6, where a broken line rectangle 23 encloses a per se known current rectifier and a broken line rectangle 24 encloses an amplifier also per se known. Still in the circuit of FIG. 6, R3 and R6 are the thermistor and the heating resistance, respectively, enclosed in the reservoir 9 and shown in FIG. 4. T1 is a bi-directional semiconductor (triac), while reference characters Z are Zener diodes and TR is a transformer.

In order to explain the operation of the hair washing device, it is assumed that after placing the helmet 1 on a persons head, the starting key is depressed, thereby starting the timer 15. From the water supply the water flows through the electrovalve E4 controlled by the timer to the reservoir 9, where the level is controlled by the level indicator 14.

The level indicator indicates the level as attained by the water in the reservoir and gates the electronic circuit for heating and controlling the water temperature and also operates on the timer which blocks the electrovalve E4 shutting off the water inlet to the reservoir.

An electric current is now supplied to the heating resistance R6, the current being in a varying amount depending on the change in temperature of the water in the reservOir, and this resistance heats the water until thermistor R3 gates the control thereof.

The amount of current enabled to flow to resistor R6 (the values of which, for example, may be 50 ohms and 1 KW) through the semiconductor T1, will depend on the resistance value of thermistor R3 changing its value as the water temperature changes, and on a second resistor R2 which is manually adjustable by the knob on console 18. The adjustment of the resistor R2 allows the adjustment and hence the selection, as desired, of the temperature desired for the water in the reservoir.

The amplifier 24 (FIG. 6) is for increasing the sensitivity of thermistor R3 and resistor R2 and causing a ready operation of the semiconductor T1 (which enables the passage of a larger or lesser amount of electric power for resistor R6) to compensate for sudden changes in temperature of the water in the reservoir.

The electric power required for the operation of the amplifier 24 is supplied from the DC feeder 23.

The water temperature at the inlet to reservoir 9 can be at different values, such as water supply temperature, or a temperature slightly lower than the operating temperature, as obtained for example by using a known water heater. Therefore, the water in the reservoir has to be brought to the operating temperature: the time being required to do this will depend on the temperature differential between the operating temperature, that is the temperature of the water to be delivered to the showers 5, and the temperature of the water in the reservoir.

Upon signal reception from the electronic heating circuit 17 indicating that the water has attained the predetermined value, the timer 15 will impose a voltage on the pump P3 which is connected to the container 12 for a hair washing solution, so that said pump P3 supplies a predetermined metered amount of solution to said reservoir 9.

Following this operation, the timer will impose a voltage on the delivery pump P1 and electronic oscillator circuit 16, shown in detail in FIG. 5. The electronic circuit 16 provides for alternately timing the opening and closing of the electrovalves E1, E2 and E3. It should be noted that the bistable multivibrator 20 (FIG. 5) is switched by the variable period oscillator 21 which, in turn,is manually adjustable by means of the potentiometer R8. The two transistors Q2 and Q3 are alternately conductive, interchanging the signal outlet between the points connected to the respective collector. Upon withdrawal of current on one of these points, control is imparted to the multiple changeover contact relay comprising the coil 22 and movable contact 23, and to which the electrovalves El, E2 and E3 terminate.

The electrovalves E1, E2 and E3, which as apparent can be controlled all together or alternatively, enable I the water as pressurized by the delivery pump P1 to reach the showers 5 on the helmet 1 through tubings 6, 7 and 8.

On exiting from the showers 5, the water along with the the above mentioned washing solution will impinge on a persons hair, washing it and performing because of the jet pressure and anternancy a useful massage of the scalp and causing the hair to continuously move in either direction. The water is collected in the trough 3 and through the conduit 4 it passes to the filter 11 (FIG. 3) and to the reservoir 9 therefrom. The washing step can be repeated for several times, always under the control of the timer 15 and the water heating control circuit 17.

Upon completion of the washing step, the timer will cut off voltage to the delivery pump P1, controlling circuit 16 of the electrovalves El, E2 and E3 and will impose a voltage on the drain pump P2. The level indicator 14 in the reservoir 9 will indicate the full outlet of water from said reservoir and cut off the heating circuit 17, whereby the resistor R6 is no longer fed.

Upon completion of water drain, the timer will cut off voltage to the drain pump and gate the electrovalve E4 to fill up again the reservoir with water. When the water reaches the predetennined level in the reservoir, the level indicator 14 will gate the heating and control circuit 17 for the water temperature enabling said circuit to supply current to the resistor R6 in a varying amount depending on the water temperature. The timer will block the electrovalve E4 when the reservoir has been filled with water.

Thus the temperature of the water in the reservoir attains the predetermined value. The electronic circuit 17 for temperature control supplies a signal to the timer to proceed to the following step by a known signalling device capable of detecting the attained tempeated, that is without the solution that in the previous step was withdrawn from the container 12. As apparent, washing or rinsing steps can be alternated according to the program set up by the timer. It is likewise apparent that in the rinsing steps the pumps P3, P4 would not be operated and would not introduce any cleansing solution into the reservoir prior to starting the cycle, while it being possible to introduce restoring or coloring solutions into the reservoir.

storing, coloring solution or the like can be different and more that two.

perature value: this device has not been shown for the sake of simplicity in the drawings as being per se well known, such as of a design as used in ordinary water heaters. The timer will impose voltage on the delivery pump and electronic control circuit 16 for the electro- 5 valves E1, E2 and E3. Thus, the water will flow under pressure in tubings 6, 7 and 8 and exit from the showers 5 in the helmet.

Then the first washing step with pure water is re- As shown in the drawings, the types of washing, re-

By means of conduits, showers and electrovalves of a suitable design, hair treatment solutions can be injected concurrently and independently of the pure water withdrawn from the reservoir. The number of showers, the arrangement thereof, the number of tubings and the water pressure can be as desired.

When suitably programmed, the timer shows an excellent behavior in performing different working programs.

It is to be pointed out that the person washing his or What I claim is:

l. A hair washing device comprising:

a helmet having seals along its free edge, shower 40 heads arranged within said helmet, and an outlet opening;

a liquid-supply means connected to said shower heads and connectable to a water supply, said liquid-supply means including a liquid reservoir having a level indicator therein and a drain, electrovalves, pump means, and liquid conduit means, said liquid conduit means connecting said reservoir to said pump means, said pump means to said electrovalves, and individual ones of said electrovalves to corresponding ones at said shower heads;

a hair-treatment-liquid supply means including at least one container for a hair-treatment-liquid, and a delivery pump, said container and said pump being operatively connected to at least one of said shower heads;

a temperature-control means including a heater in said reservoir, a heat-responsive element in said reservoir for use in controlling the output of said heater, and a manually adjustable potentiometer for setting the control temperature; and

electric circuitry connected to said level indicator,

said electrovalves, said pump means, said delivery pump, and said temperature-control means, said circuitry including a timing device controlling said pump means and delivery pump and selectively controlling said electrovalves, said level indicator being electrically connected to said timing device and causing it to step-advance and being electrically connected to said temperature-control means to selectively switch said heater on and off.

2. The device as claimed in claim 1, including a discharge conduit connecting said outlet opening to said liquid reservoir.

3. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said reservoir drain includes a drain pump, said drain pump being controlled by said timing device.

4. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said liquid conduit means includes a plurality of distinct tubings connecting said electrovalves to said shower heads, and wherein said electric circuitry includes: a current amplifier operatively connected to said heatresponsive element and to said potentiometer, a current rectifier supplying current to said amplifier; and a bidirectional semiconductor connected to said amplifier and to said heater, whereby the current going to said heater from said heat-responsive element is amplified.

5.-The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said electric circuit including a timing device for selectively controlling said electrovalves comprises: a variable period oscillator connected to said timing device; a bistable multivibrator connected to said oscillator; and at least one relay connected to said multivibrator for controlling the electrovalves in the liquid conduit means connecting said pump means with said shower heads.

6. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said heat-responsive element is a thermistor.

7. The device as claimed in claim 5, wherein said relay is a multi-contact relay. 

1. A hair washing device comprising: a helmet having seals along its free edge, shower heads arranged within said helmet, and an outlet opening; a liquid-supply means connected to said shower heads and connectable to a water supply, said liquid-supply means including a liquid reservoir having a level indicator therein and a drain, electrovalves, pump means, and liquid conduit means, said liquid conduit means connecting said reservoir to said pump means, said pump means to said electrovalves, and individual ones of said electrovalves to corresponding ones at said shower heads; a hair-treatment-liquid supply means including at least one container for a hair-treatment-liquid, and a delivery pump, said container and said pump being operatively connected to at least one of said shower heads; a temperature-control means including a heater in said reservoir, a heat-responsive element in said reservoir for use in controlling the output of said heater, and a manually adjustable potentiometer for setting the control temperature; and electric circuitry connected to said level indicator, said electrovalves, said pump means, said delivery pump, and said temperature-control means, said circuitry including a timing device controlling said pump means and delivery pump and selectively controlling said electrovalves, said level indicator being electrically connected to said timing device and causing it to step-advance and being electrically connected to said temperature-control means to selectively switch said heater on and off.
 2. The device as claimed in claim 1, including a discharge conduit connecting said outlet opening to said liquid reservoir.
 3. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said reservoir drain includes a drain pump, said drain pump being controlled by said timing device.
 4. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said liquid conduit means includes a plurality of distinct tubings connecting said electrovalves to said shower heads, and wherein said electric circuitry includes: a current amplifier operatively connected to said heat-responsive element and to said potentiometer, a current rectifier supplying current to said amplifier; and a bidirectional semiconductor connected to said amplifier and to said heater, whereby the current going to said heater from said heat-responsive element is amplified.
 5. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said electric circuit including a timing device for selectively controlling said electrovalves comprises: a variable period oscillator connected to said timing device; a bistable multivibrator connected to said oscillator; and at least one relay connected to said multivibrator for controlling the electrovalves in the liquid conduit means connecting said pump means with said shower heads.
 6. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said heat-responsive element is a thermistor.
 7. The device as claimed in claim 5, wherein said relay is a multi-contact relay. 